Helena weekly herald., 1887-11-03
THE CHANGES MADE

The tiers OF seats nave greater elevation
above each other and are supplied with
elegant new chairs with iron frames, up
holstered in red plush. They are larger
and more comfortable than the old chairs
and each seat on the floor commands
splendid view of the stage. In fact the
seating arrangement is SO complete that
there is not bad seat in the house. The
gallery, which has been brought to the
front six feet further, is provided with the
chairs that were formerly used In the par
quette The first two rows of these con-
stitute the telcony, and as they are excep-
tionally fine seats are sold by reserve. The
seating capacity of the house is now about
900, as it will accommodate 600 below
and 400 in the gallery.
The most important improvement and
the gem of the theatre is the proscenium.
This is most artistically executed. The
stage appears set in a massive square frame
ornamental woodwork. On either side rise
the boxes part of the proscenium, and of
exceedingly. pretty pattern. They are
circular in shape, open all around except
for the rear wall, with brass rails and
carved pillars, wooden curtains OF dainty
fret work and canopies, resplendent In blue
and gold, shaped like the dome of Moor
ish pagoda They are handsomely up
holstered in velvet and plush and are
draped with old gold curtains, hung by the
artistic hand of Mr.. Halsey, the well known
decorator. Though projecting sufficiently
to command fine view of the stage, the
four boxes are so built that they interfere
not at all with the view from the audi
torium or balcony.
The stage too has been lowered, giving
room for more scenery and presenting a
better front to the audience. 1t has been
furnished with an entire new set of scenery,
manufactured in Chicago and handsome
new drop curtain fills the place of the well
worn sheet that has for so many years un
folded its Italian landscape to the tired
gaze of familiar audience. Extra dress
ing rooms, six in number, have been added
in the rear and are furnished neatly.
Brussels carpet and gas are among the
dressing room Improvements.
A foyer has also been added to the audi
torium, shutting off the gallery stairs from
the audience and affordiDg a variety of
exits. A new door has been cut on the
south side, opening into the alley, and the
exits are so numerous that the house can
be emptied in five minutes.
The interior decorations were made by
Meinhardt & Valiant, the painters, and A.
j. Holmes, the paper hanger On the walls
and ceiling handsome paper, with gilt de-
signs on light ground, makes the interior
light up splendidly-a contrast to the
gloomy dinginess of yore. Then the
woodwork has been artistically touched
up by the painters brush and presents on
all sides the happiest effects OF contrast
and correspondence with the walls and cell
ing. Indeed the whole interior of the house
presents a cheerful aspect and the sur
roundings are such that the eye can rest
on them with pleasure. The verdict of
the audience tonight can not fail to ap-
prove of the work.
The arrangements for light, heat and
ventilation are of the most perfect kind.
Electric devices are used for turning on
and lighting the gas, which is employed
with dazzling prodigality. A new furnace
and cold air pipes insure an equable tenn
perature on all occasions.
These are chief features of the improve
ments. 1t is left for individuals to analyze
the details of the acceptable transforma-
tion Months have been consumed in the
work, ana Mr.. Ming has laid out fully S1O,-
900 in remodeling his theatre.
THE OPENING NIGHT.
This evening the new theatre Will be
filled to overflOwing for the grand opening.
The seats are all sold and every box is en-
gagged The elite of the city will be out
and the audience will be a representative
assemblage of our wealth and fashion. The
popular Pyke Opera Company, with the
charming and talented JEANNE Winston,
the vivacious and bewitching Louise Man
fred, the statuesque Genevieve Reynolds
and the irrepressible DeLange, will be on
hand to play the Beggar Student. Before
the opera Hon. A. F. Burleigh will deliver
an address, and the orchestra will render
some selections. All in all, it will be the
night of the engagement and a memorable
occasion. Ming's Opera House is to be re-
opened and the whole of Helena will par
| ticipate in the Inauguration.
HONOR TO WHOM HONOR Is DUE.
Mr.. r. V. Harvey, the expert stage archi-
tect who has so successfully completed the
remodeling of Mings Opera House, came
from Boston and learned his trade in the
| Hub under A. w. johnson, one of the
recognized stage artists of the Gay. After
the death of Mr.. johnson Mr.. Harvey COM
pleted the unfinished work on hand and
soon after erected and completed the Olym-
pic theater in Boston. He was then recOg-
nized as one of the best theatrical designers
in the East. After completing the Olym-
pic he built the following theatres: Sell
ma and Ufala, Alabama; Springer Opera
House, Columbus, Ga RalstOn Opera
House, Macon, Ga; the Charleston (South
Carolina) Opera House; the theatre at
Portland, Massachusetts,. Returning to
Boston he worked under Booth & Jarrett
for three years as stage machlnlst,
and after that in New York under
the management of James Fisk's Grand
Opera House. From there he went tC
ST. Joseph, Mo, and built TOotle's Opera
House, the seating capacity of which is
nearly three thousand. After the compile
ton of that house he was sent to Montana
by J. A. Stevens to take this circuit, but
Helena was nearly destroyed by fire shortly
after he arrived, and the theatre business
played out for time. Since coming tC
Helena he has built Ming's Opera House
rnd remodeled it. His work on this theatre
is greatly admired. He had nothing but
outline plans to go on, and originated the
details with great success, owing to his vas
experience in such matters.
NOTES.
Prof Rossner, agent of the Mason q
Hamlin pianos, has furnished the orches
trail instrument that will be used at the
new theatre. 1t is an upright of Mason !
Hamlin manufacture, remarkable for per
feet mechanism and strength and purity o
tone.
|
The stage furniture, carpets, ETC., of th'
new house were furnished by A. P. Curtin
and are of handsome pattern.
|
M
"Juddn and Shorty the we'll knowr